site.btaLeadership Meeting between CC-DB and GERB-UDF Should Take Place, PM Denkov Says

Commenting on the domestic politics in Bulgaria after the local elections, Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said that a meeting should be held between the leaders of the parties in the so-called ruling non-coalition of Continue the Change (CC-DB) and GERB-UDF. Denkov added that he does not know if one has been scheduled yet. 

"We must move on. The elections are over. The pre-election criticisms, threats and comments must end and we must continue to work," urged the Prime Minister.
Denkov again indicated that he hopes that the rotation in the position of prime minister, which was agreed upon between the political forces supporting the Government, does indeed take place, as the Government has to implement a targeted programme. "Whether I will become prime minister again depends on whether we have clearly defined priorities," he also commented.

On June 6, despite their differences, CC-DB and GERB-UDF formed Bulgaria's first ever regular government on a rotating basis. The agreement was that Nikolay Denkov of CC-DB will rotate as Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister over a nine-month period with Mariya Gabriel of GERB-UDF. Gabriel is currently serving as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

"I am not afraid that there will be no conversation," Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria Co-chair Kiril Petkov told journalists earlier in the day, also commenting on the expected leadership meeting. "It is inevitable that we talk," he said.

"We talk to each other calmly, even if we say things that are problematic," said Petkov. When asked to clarify whether such a meeting will take place on Wednesday, he added: "Tomorrow we will be together in a hall in Parliament. When our colleagues are ready, we will not shy away from conversations," he added.

Kiril Petkov also noted that on Thursday Parliament should discuss the President's veto on the changes to the Energy Act. 

Petkov added that he is not worried about another vote of no confidence.